Mold for concrete steps



June 28, 1949. c. PETERSON MOLD FOR CONCRETE STEPS Filed Dec. 17, 1945 ElllEEliiPB'tETSUTL Afrlmrr Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,474,321 MOLD FOR CONCRETE STEPS Colquit Peterson, Tampa, Fla.

Application December 17, 1945, Serial No. 635,442

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to concrete molds and particularly to a concrete step mold adjustable for width and length.

The primary object of the invention is to provide longitudinally adjustable clamping means to hold the sheet metal front plate in close and rigid engagement with the end plates, to provide longitudinally adjustable means to hold the rear ends of the end wall plates at predetermined distances apart, and to provide readily operable clamping means to hold the inner wall members in parallel relation with the end plates.

In the drawings showing preferred forms of the devices selected for purpose of illustration, Fig ure 1 is a perspective view, seen from the rear, of an adjustable mold for a monolithic concrete step having integral supporting bar portions; Fig. 2 is an end elevation and Fig. 3 a plan view of the clamping means for the rear ends of the end plates and wall members between which the supporting bar portions are cast; and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and a plan view of the longitudinally adjustable clamp connecting the front plate with an end plate.

A plank I supports the front plate 2, one edge of which is bent out as a base flange 3 and the other edge of which is formed with the nosing groove t, the flange and the groove each ex tending the full length of the plate.

Slidable longitudinally of the plate from either end, are a pair of clamps 5, each consisting of a strap curved midway of its length as a central loop embracing and resting upon the metal forming the nosing groove, the ends of the strap extending as substantially parallel arms on opposite vertical faces of the plate 2. A boss 6 may be welded near the lower end of the front arm to provide additional thickness for a screw I engaging the plate 2 opposite a bracket 8 on the rear arm.

In the bracket 8 is pivoted a bolt 9 adapted for engagement within a notch II] in a keeper II secured to an end wall member I2. A nut I3 on the bolt 9 serves to pull the side face of the front plate and the front edge of the end plate into rigid contact with each other. The upper curved portion of the clamp may be reinforced by a central flange or rib I4 welded centrally of the strap at the point incurring the greatest stresses.

The arrangement just described is duplicated at the other end of the step I6. The two end members I2 serve as the end walls for the tread portion of the concrete step I6 and the upper edge of each member I2 has a nosing groove formed therein of a length desired for the nosing or trim at the end of the step. The metal forming this groove I1 is curved at its front end to fit closely within the groove 4 of the plate 2. To the rear of the groove H, the plate I2 acts as the outer side wall of the mold portion for the adjacent' supporting bar I8 cast at each end of the tread as an integral unit with the step. An inner wall member I9, similar to the members I2 except for the omission of the nosing groove portion, is set parallel with the adjacent member I2 at each end of the step at a distance fixed by an interposed spacer block 20. The front end of the members I9 are placed at the rear line of the tread portion of the step, and the blocks 20 are at a distance from the tread determined by thelength of supporting bar desired. For the central supporting bar 2|, when one is used, side wall members 22 will be set with their front ends in alinement with the front ends of the members I9 and a spacer block 20 will hold them at the right distance apart and act as a rear wall for the bar.

Between the rear ends of the wall members I2 and I9, and between the rear ends of the wall members 22 when these are used, are rear spacer blocks 23 of the same width as that of the blocks 20. On the rear face of each of the blocks 23 is an upper sleeve 24 in which is pivotally mounted a metallic rod 25 having both ends bent at about to the axis of the sleeve forming diverging arms for engagement with tapering flanges 26 projecting outward from the outer face of each of the wall members between which the block. 23 is set. The flanges 26 will be opposite each other and made with the same taper and at a relatively short distance from the sleeve 24 for simultaneous engagement with the clamping arms of the rod 25. As the arms are swung forward into engagement with the flanges, the wedging action will force the Wall members into tight contact with the sides of the blocks 23, and because of the elasticity of the metal of the arms, the arms will be spread enough to exert a constant inward pressure on the wall members. Between the block 20 and the block 23 in any of the spaces between the adjacent wall members, a spacing member 2'! will be used to hold the block 20 and the block 23 at the desired distances apart, resisting any rearward pressure on the block 20.

Between the front end of the inner wall member I9 and the front end of the next wall member along the rear face of the tread I6 is placed a block 28 which acts as a rear wall for the portion of the step between two successive supporting bars. A single intermediate supporting bar 2! is shown in Fig. 1, and this will be sufficient for a reinforced step of any ordinary length. For unusually long steps two or more intermediate bars may be used or the intermediate bar may be omitted for shorter steps or for those sufii- 5 ciently reinforced when an intemnediate bar would be undesirable. In the absence of an intermediate bar 21 a single block 28 would extend from onewallmemberv l-9-.- to the-other:

. tion, and relation of parts may be made without On e on block 23, is a'sleeve-zll ito receive aalo connect ng member shown as a pipe 30 which runs the whole length of the mold with a clamp:- screw in each sleeve for engagementswithathe. pipe to hold the blocks 23 in proper longitudinal positions at the rear ends of the moldrwalls-lt,"

I9, and 22.

After the clamps 5 are adjusted to secure the front plate 2 ,to the front ends of the wallimemibers l2 at the distance from each other for the departure from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. Aniadjustable. mold for-monolithic portable stepsscompri'singfia frontuplate, end plates adjustable longitudinally of the front plate, and a .clslmp for each end plate having two arms, one

to bear. against the outer surface of the vertical wall of the front plate and having a screw to lengthof tread to-be molded; zthelblocks are set implace .for the length. of; supportingbars l8 and. rand-the blocks 23 set approximately opposite. theiblocks. 20. The qwall members l9 are placed. against! the blocks 20 and 23 and-held by the arms 25.:whilethe wall members 22 are set. againsttheir 25 blocks 20 and.23,.and the.members .28 placed between the front ends of. the-wall members 19. and. 22.. Theend blocks 23 are slid to bring the wall. lZat right angles tothe frontplate and clamped tothe pipe by the screws 3|. The walls 22, 22, 30

will. also. usually beset .at right angles to the. plate 2.. If. the various members have been made of.-the right length; the whole mold. assemblyshould be sufficiently rigid. The spacing members 21. may be ofany material of proper length, since. 3

theironly function is to hold the blocks20 against rearward movement.

U. S.. Patent No. 1,963,856,. June .19, 1934,. to Colquit Peterson, disclosesthetype of concrete.=.

steps for which the adjustable mold-shown in U. Sn 4 Patent No. 2,255,480, September 9;..1941, to...Con-.- nor and Peterson, is especially adapted. It.will be seenthat the assembly herein. disclosed has all. of. the advantages of themoldof the previous. patent. The meansnow used .for. clamping the front plate to the end walls, is readily =slidabla along the plate and provides a secure, fastening to holdthe front plate from outward movement. and to hold the end plates. from sidewisei move-. ment along the front plate. The end of the screw T'bears against the outer face. of the plate 2 about. 5

midway of its height and the bolt 9 acts in line. with the screw to drawethegpla'te into close .en-- gagement with'the vertical front edge of the side. wall; The spacer blocks .23 are easily adj'ustable to hold the rear ends of the wallimembers in their properplaces and the simple clamping means. carried'by the blocks are easy .to .use for temporary clamping of the wallmembers as well .as

I I t :bear a ainst; the wall at about midway of its height, and the other arm having a bolt pivoted thereto for detachable engagement with the end platetandga nut on the bolt to draw and hold the end plate in tight engagement with the front plate.

2. An. adjustable mold for monolithic portable steps having a tread, "a riser, and rearwardly' extending. supporting. bar portions, comprising .a front. member. having a vertical portion forming the. front wallof the tread and riser portion of the mold, end. members mounted substantially at right angles to the front member and adjustable longitudinally thereof to determine the length of the-step, a wall member connected with each of theend members and separated therefrom by a spacing-member adjustable lengthwise of the wall and. end members to provide relatively narrow mold. portions for the supporting bars of the step, rear spacer'blocks interposed between the rear ends of the .end members and the adjacent wall members, clamping means on the rear spacer blocks movable toengage the ends of the wall membersand end members to secure them to theblocks; and means on each end block to enga e "a connectinggmember adapted to hold the rear spacer blocksin the desired longitudinal positions at the rear. of the mold.

3;"'Astructure"as in: claim 2 having a clamp adjustable alongthe front member to a position adjacent to the frontend of the end member and connected'therewith to secure the members together against lateral and longitudinal movemen COLQUIT PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED Theafollowingreferences are of record in the fileof this. patent:

UNI 'IED' STATES PATENTS 

